Best Micro SD Card Buying Guide

These days, people tend to have a great deal of data that they need to store. Hence, it has become increasingly important to have a micro SD card that you can store your extra data in. There is no end to the ways in which micro SD cards can be useful, especially if you are the type of person who takes a lot of videos and pictures and needs enough memory on their phone to save it.

However, the problem here lies in the fact that you can’t just buy any old micro SD card. The one that you buy needs to be worthy of the money you are paying and more so than that, it needs to be a card that is specifically tuned to your needs and would provide you with the services that you require in your particular situation.

In order to make your life easier, this buying guide is going to tell you all about the best micro SD cards out there. You can use this guide to pick out your ideal card as well as learn how you can avoid getting a fake and how you can maintain and take care of the one you have.

Why not just get the biggest top-brand card?

Buying the best micro SD card can be particularly difficult when you consider the fact that there are a great many options that are available to you, but most of these options are not all that great. A lot of brands offer subpar, low-quality micro SD cards. The problem here is that you might not even realize you are buying a bad card because most people tend to assume that just having the space to store data is everything.

In addition to this, a major problem that a lot of people tend to face has to do with the fact that there are a lot of counterfeit cards that are sold, and neither the buyer nor the retailer realizes that this is the case. This is because counterfeiters have become very good at making their fake micro SD cards look like the real thing; they even perform like the real thing initially. This means you are going to have to be particularly vigilant while buying this particular item because a bad decision might only be a misstep away.

The Cream of the Crop: 64 GB Samsung Evo+

There is no need for any lists because there is one micro SD card that reigns above all others. The best micro SD card is, without a doubt, the 64 GB Samsung Evo+. There are a number of reasons why this is the best micro SD card out there, and all of these reasons are provided to you below.

Large storage space

This is one of the most pertinent reasons that you should seriously consider getting this card. The fact of the matter is that storage space is a big issue, especially when you have a phone that does not have all that much built-in storage space. Keep in mind that the operating system of the phone you are using also takes up some of your storage space, so if you buy a phone that has 16 GB of internal memory, only about ten of those gigabytes are going to be actually usable and your apps are going to eat up a lot of that. Having 64 GB to spare can really add value to your phone and can help you make the most of it in pretty much any situation.

One great thing about this particular micro SD card is the fact that 64 GB is the perfect amount of data to have. It is just enough that you are not going to run out of data anytime soon but not so much that it would drive the price of your memory card up unnecessarily and leave you with a ton of empty space that you are never going to use. All in all, this micro SD card’s storage space is just what you need for everyday use.

High-quality memory

The great thing about this micro SD card is that you do not just get quantity when it comes to memory and data storage capacity; you get quality as well. A lot of people tend not to think about the quality of the data capacity they are getting and assume that just getting a huge chunk of storage is all they are going to need. However, there are other things to consider as well.

The speed at which data is stored is a crucial aspect that is absolutely pivotal to your micro SD card’s performance. If you are recording in 1080p and have a low-quality micro SD card, the chances are that the video file you store would be corrupted or become low quality in one way or the other.

This is the best micro SD card because it writes very quickly to the data storage space. Hence, when you are recording a high-quality video, you are going to find that there would be absolutely no lag of any kind and when you watch the video after recording, you would see that it is as crystal clear as it was while you had your camera on. This makes this micro SD card a great option for people who shoot a lot of video content.

One interesting aspect of this micro SD card is the fact that it can store audio very well. A lot of memory cards tend to store audio by compressing it so that it does not take up a lot of room. Most people are not audiophiles and simply will not know the difference, but someone who regularly listens to music would know that this ruins the quality of their listening experience. Hence, if you are the sort of person who takes his or her music listening seriously, you should really consider getting this micro SD card.

Durability

One of the biggest problems associated with micro SD cards is the fact that they can break easily. This comes from their diminutive size, which makes fragility an inevitability. This is something that puts a lot of people off micro SD cards in general and makes them want to opt for other methods of storage. However, those other methods are inferior to micro SD cards because they do not maintain the same quality, but people still go for them because they do not want to spend money on something that could easily break.

The great thing about this micro SD card, which makes it an absolutely perfect option for you, is the fact that it is extremely durable. Samsung has put a great deal of effort into making this card capable of withstanding some rough treatment because it knows that sometimes you just can’t avoid situations like this at all.

The great thing about the material that has been used in this product is that it is not just hard. In fact, making it too hard would have ironically made it more prone to breaking because the appropriate amount of force could easily snap this micro SD card in two. The best solution to durability is making the card flexible as well as tough so that if pressure is applied, it bends instead of snapping.

A lot of people might worry that the flexibility of this card could potentially put the data they store within it in danger, but Samsung has taken the appropriate precautions in order to prevent any such thing from happening. As long as you use the card reasonably well and do not toss it off a building or do any other similarly extreme activity, the data that you store within it is going to remain perfectly safe.

The durability of this micro SD card means that you would be able to purchase this item and use it for the long term. This can save you a great deal of money as this micro SD card is state of the art and cutting edge, so you will not have to worry about it becoming obsolete any time soon. All in all, the durability of this micro SD card really does set it apart and helps it to be the best micro SD card out there.

Compatibility

Compatibility is one of the most important aspects of pretty much any micro SD card. Hence, the fact that this card is compatible with almost any device will truly help it become an important part of anyone’s tech arsenal.

The great thing is that the compatibility of this micro SD card is versatile. Hence, it is not just that it is compatible with a bunch of different devices, although that, on its own, is an extremely useful element of this device which makes it a great option for anyone who has multiple devices. If you own a laptop, phone, and tablet or perhaps you own multiple laptops, phones and/or tablets, this micro SD card is great because it can be used in all of them with ease.

There are two basic aspects to its wide compatibility and versatility. To start off with, the storage space in this micro SD card has been designed to keep data in such a way that it would remain compatible no matter where you plug in your micro SD card. Hence, if you are transferring data from an Apple device to a Samsung device, you are probably not going to have to worry about the data getting corrupted as you would with most other micro SD cards out there.

The physical compatibility of this micro SD card is also highly superior. You would get a slot that you can use to change it into a simple SD card rather than a micro SD card. This is useful if you have an older phone or if you just prefer this size and want to use converters all the way in order to get a more old-school vibe from your data storing needs.

Overall, the versatility of this device is an absolutely brilliant aspect of what makes it one of the best micro SD cards you can find.

Affordability

Price is a rather tricky terrain to navigate with any product, but this issue becomes even more pertinent when it comes to micro SD cards. This is because micro SD cards are often overpriced as people are willing to pay a premium for tech that is of the highest quality. Companies often exploit this fact and use it to charge far more than the cards they make are worth, and people pay for it because they simply do not know that micro SD cards do not need to be as expensive as they are.

On the other end of the spectrum, getting a card that is very cheap would not be a good idea either. The concept of maximizing profit still applies, so if you are buying a cheap micro SD card, you can be sure that you are getting something that the company has not spent much money on at all. This means that you are going to get a very flimsy device that would be terrible at recording data, and you will find that most of your data is going to end up getting corrupted.

The great thing about this micro SD card is that it manages to stay affordable and still provide you with an extremely high-quality product. The proof is right here before you; this product is absolutely excellent in every single way, but it manages to keep its price low through its intelligent use of economical material along with Samsung’s excellent policy regarding markup and profit. It is safe to say that there are not many micro SD cards out there that are this affordable, and it is pretty much guaranteed that you are not going to find one that is nearly this good at a price like this.

Warranty

Warranties can help you make the most of your product. This is because they allow you to feel secure in your purchase as you would not stand any chance of losing money in any way. Feeling confident in your purchase is an important part of your experience with the product you have obtained, so it is obvious that the excellent warranty you are going to get with this micro SD card is going to add a great deal of value to the experience you will receive upon using this memory storage device.

The first excellent thing about this warranty is that it lasts a very long time. Once you buy this micro SD card, its durability means that you can get a good few years out of it. Throughout this period, you will not have to worry about losing any money on your device because on the rare occasion that it does malfunction, it is going to be covered by the warranty, as this warranty extends over five whole years! It is safe to say that no matter how long you use this device, the warranty is going to be there to help you out in any way you need it to.

The great thing is that the people over at Samsung do not cause problems either when you are trying to get your device fixed in any way. They accept the problem and fix it without you having to worry at all. This is all part of Samsung’s superior customer service, which surpasses all other companies out there making micro SD cards.

Another great example of the brilliant service that Samsung provides can be seen when you try to call customer support. Wait times are very short indeed, and you can sit back and relax knowing that your call will be attended shortly. When you get through the queue, you will end up talking to an actual human being and not a computerized voice that would give you a number of different options to press. The customer service representatives are brilliant at what they do too. They are helpful, knowledgeable, and always willing to lend a hand to a customer who needs it.

This combination of a superior warranty as well as the outstanding customer service that would be offered to you makes this micro SD card, by far, the best possible option that you could consider.

Should You Get This Micro SD Card?

Just because this product is absolutely amazing does not mean that you should get it without thinking. It is important that you try your best to ensure that you actually need this product before you buy it. There are certain criteria that you are going to have to meet if you truly want to enjoy this product to its fullest extent.

The first thing that you should consider is whether or not you actually need this product. This is a very important question to ask, as a lot of people end up getting a product that they do not actually need and it ends up serving as nothing more than a waste of money for them. If you have a micro SD card that is recent and not obsolete or if your phone has an adequate amount of built-in storage, the chances are that you are not going to have to worry about getting a new one for a while. Hence, the better thing to do is to just relax and let the whole thing unfold on its own. When your micro SD card starts to act up, you can go ahead and get a new one with ease.

Another thing that you should keep in mind is whether or not your phone has a micro SD card reader. If this is the case and your phone actually does have such a card reader, you can buy a micro SD card and use it to its maximum efficiency. However, if your phone only has an SD card reader, you need to get a proper SD card ideally. It is true that most micro SD cards come with adapters that you can use to change the size, but they often do not transfer data properly. It is always better to get a micro SD card if you have the slot for it already on your phone because your data is far too precious to risk in any way like this.

You also need to keep your data storage needs in mind. After all, if you are looking to provide yourself with a certain amount of extra space on your phone, you are going to have to measure your usage at least a little. In doing so, you will be able to allow yourself to get the right kind of micro SD card. If you do not have a lot of files that you will have to store or if you do not use apps that require an extensive amount of data, then getting a micro SD card that has this much space in it will be a real waste.

All in all, keeping these things in mind will make sure that you remain satisfied with your purchase and you will get the exact kind of micro SD card you need. Remember, this is a tool, so getting it when there is no need for it does not make any sense at all.

An Alternative Option: Samsung Evo

While the 64 GB Samsung Evo+ really is the absolute best micro SD card out there, there are some other options that you can try as well. If you do not want to go for the best to save money, you can go for the next best thing, which is the 64 GB Samsung Evo. This is a lighter version of the Evo+, hence the missing plus sign at the end. However, do not let this fact lead you to believe that this micro SD card does not have a lot of things to offer. On the contrary, it is an absolutely fantastic micro SD card that has a lot of different features that you are going to love; it is just scaled back in certain situations, which is not that big a deal if you do not have any need for these features in the first place.

For example, if you generally do not record 1080p video at the highest possible pixel rate, you are not going to need the Evo+. The Evo+ is great for recording data at that level of quality, but if you do not need that type of heavy-duty recording capability, why spend money on it in the first place? It is a much better idea to just go for the alternative option, as it provides a great deal of benefits that you would be able to enjoy.

Essentially, with the Evo, you are going to get the capability of recording 1080p video at a slightly lower frame rate and pixel count, the ability to store the same amount of data, and the same great durability that you would get with the Evo+. The major benefit that you are getting here is that you are able to save a great deal of money in the process, which you are really going to enjoy as would anyone else.

In order to make the most of the Evo, you really should try the 32 GB version. This version is a lot more compact and is known for being extremely efficient because it does not have as much data to manage. An important thing to note is that it would be cheaper as well. This fact makes this version of the micro SD card a great option for people who do not have a lot of data that they need to store. As long as you know your requirements, you can choose between the Evo+ and the Evo with ease. Just keep in mind that the Evo+ is, without a doubt, the superior micro SD card, but at the same time, it is really not worth it at all if you do not consume enough data to make the presence of the card as useful as possible.

Other awesome micro SD cards

Capacities

Class

Data transfer speeds

Warranty

Check price

Samsung EVO Select

32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB

10

80MB/s

10 years

Lexar High

16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB

10

95MB/s

lifetime warranty for card and 1-year limited warranty for adapter

SanDisk Extreme

16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB

10

90MB/s

lifetime Warranty

Silicon Power Elite

32GB, 64GB, 128GB

10

85MB/s

lifetime Warranty

Patriot LX Series

8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB

10

70MB/s

2-year warranty

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Making Sure You Get the Real Deal

Counterfeit micro SD cards have started to become a real problem nowadays, with a lot of people taking advantage of how new this field is and how untraceable these micro SD cards can be to cash in and earn as much money as possible. There are a number of different ways in which you can ensure that you get the real deal and not a knockoff product that would be a real waste of your time.

One of the biggest ways in which you might get scammed is if you order your micro SD card from Amazon. If you get a micro SD card like this, you need to ensure that you get it in the packaging shown in the picture. Amazon often sends products in its own special kind of packaging that is supposedly a lot easier to open. However, they need to take the item out of its original packaging in order to do this and this original packaging is disposed of, leaving it nowhere to be seen. This gives counterfeiters the opportunity to hawk their goods and make a tidy profit.

Apart from checking to see if the packaging is original, even if you have the original packaging, you need to be very careful because the people trying to trick you can be very smart indeed. They can hide damaged packaging in a number of different ways. Perhaps the single best technique you can use in order to find out whether or not your card is legitimate is to check it and see at what speed it transfers data. If the speed is slower than it is supposed to be, you have got yourself a fake product, which you should return at the earliest convenience. Simply call the complaints department of whatever company you ordered from, and everything should be completely fine.

The basic thing you have to keep in mind is that things like this happen and they happen fairly frequently. Hence, it is imperative that you pay close attention to whatever you are buying at all times, even if it is not an SD card.

Taking Care of Your Micro SD Card

If you want your micro SD card to last as long as possible, you need to take proper care of it and ensure that it does not come to any kind of harm. This might take a little bit of effort, but it really is worth it in the long run, and this is why you should try your best to take as much care of your micro SD card as possible in order to ensure its longevity. You can follow a few simple tips to keep your micro SD card working in top condition.

Keep Away from Water

This seems logical enough, but you would be surprised at how many people end up using water to clean their micro SD card. This is something that can really ruin your memory card. After all, there are sensitive components added to your card that would get damaged if they are exposed to water. If your micro SD card falls into water, you might not even be able to get your data back, thus forcing you to start all of your projects from the beginning again.

Keep Away from Magnets

Magnets are also very dangerous for micro SD cards. Magnetism is what allows your SD card to hold data within in. Getting too close to a magnet can completely wipe your micro SD card clean of all the data it possessed, thus leaving you with nothing but an empty space in which you can put more data. If you expose your micro SD card to too much magnetism, it might get ruined entirely and would be unable to hold any more data for any duration of time.

Don’t Drop It

If you drop your micro SD card, you might end up losing data because the delicate magnets that are used to encode it might end up becoming damaged. A damaged magnetic strip is completely unreadable, so you should take great care. The best way to prevent your micro SD card from getting damaged is to just keep it in your phone at all times, and even if it is not in your phone, you should keep it in a safe place where it would not fall from a great height.

Clean Your SD Card

You should be very careful while cleaning your micro SD card because there are a lot of ways in which it could go wrong and cause a real problem. A rough cloth, tissue paper, or any other mildly abrasive surface can result in damage to your micro SD card, so you should avoid these materials as much as possible. The best way to clean your micro SD card is to use a microfiber cloth. This is the sort of cloth that you get with eyeglasses nowadays. This cloth is extremely delicate and will not damage the magnetic strips of your micro SD card in any way, thus rendering the encoded information as safe as it can possibly be.

You should do this every so often if you do not have a case or if you have not kept your micro SD card inside your phone in a long while. This will help increase the longevity of your micro SD card as well because if dirt enters the magnetic strips, it can cause damage to your data and result in data loss or it can render your micro SD card completely unusable.

If your micro SD card did not already come with a case, you would do well to buy one. Cases are great because they allow you to keep your micro SD card safe at all times. Even if you drop your micro SD card while it is in the case, it would not have much of an impact at all, as the shock would be absorbed by the case. Your micro SD card would also be protected from all manners of dust, which would protect the data you have stored within it and ensure that you do not suffer any losses whatsoever.